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Visit online: www.atu587.com VOL. XXXVIII, NO. 7

The President’s Report

Thank You

I would like to thank all the mem-bers who took the time to vote in our recent Officer election.

Less than half of this membership voted even though we all had the same opportunity. There were many questions as to why so few members chose to get involved and there are a multitude of reasons, but more importantly is what will it take for this membership to stand up and get involved?

During the campaign there were many members and candidates that voiced the desire to make this Union strong again. I can remember Union meetings when we had hundreds of members in attendance. I would like to invite all members to come back and attend meetings again starting July 9, 2015. The meetings will be

informative and all are welcome to participate.

I recall Drivers calling the Coordi-nator offering to help their leader, not worried about their own break but willing to assist their Union brother or sister get back on time. I will work to improve our schedules so we have an opportunity to provide customer service again. Members want to serve the public and we take pride in doing so. We will need the help of management in order to be the num-ber one transit agency in the nation once again. Realistic schedules are what we need, to allow Operators time to let our customers have time be seated. Adequate time will also reduce the number of accidents and improve customer relations.

I would like to thank all the

candidates that participated for the courage they displayed in taking the chance to run, leaving them-selves vulnerable to the scrutiny of the membership. Understand it is not easy for candidates to open up and expound on issues that are important to them. These issues should not die because of a win or a loss; continue to dream of how you might bring your concerns to life.

We have five entirely new Offi-cers and the majority of our Execu-tive Board is also new for the first time in the 33 years that I have been a member. Now is the time to make a difference by getting involved. Local 587 wants your input and your commitment. Pick a meeting you can attend monthly, and be a part of the change in your future.

by President,Kenny McCormick

Before Slamming BuS DriverS De BlaSio neeDS to make

BuSeS Safer

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arBitration uPDate

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Continuing eDuCation for ShoP StewarDS

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2015 northweSt ConferenCe

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take a triP BaCk in time with mehva

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going BaCk to our rootS

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Driving tranSit with a DiSaBility

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587 laDieS getaway CruiSe to Belize

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July 2015

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Business of the Membership

The Month at a Glance

Tentative AgendaCHARTER MEETING Thursday, July 9, 20158:00 p.m.The Labor Temple, Hall #12800 1st Ave., Seattle, WA

MORNING MEETING Friday, July 10, 201510:30 a.m.The Labor Temple, Hall #82800 1st Ave., Seattle, WA

SATuRdAy MEETING Saturday, July 11, 201511:00 a.m.The Labor Temple, Hall #12800 1st Ave., Seattle, WA

JEFFERSON TRANSITMonday, July 13, 20157:00 p.m. Port Townsend Community Center, 620 Tyler Street, Port Townsend, WA

CLALLAM TRANSITTuesday, July 14, 20157:00 p.m.Vern Burton Memorial BuildingPort Angeles, WA

WEdNESdAy MEETING Wednesday, July 15, 20153:30 p.m.The Labor Temple, Hall #12800 1st Ave., Seattle, WA

Membership Meetings:

Executive Board ReportJune 29, 2015

Published monthly in Seattle.

Official publication of Amalgamated Transit Union Local 587, AFL-CIO, representing employees of Metro/King County, Clallam Transit, Jefferson Transit and Seattle Personal Transit.

2815 Second Avenue, Suite 230Seattle, Washington 98121Telephone: 206-448-8588.

Affiliations: Washington State Labor Council, King County Labor Council, Northwest Joint Con-ference Board, ATU Legislative Council, Olympic

Labor Council.

Articles/Letters to the editor

Letters/contributions must include printed names, signatures, work ID numbers, ad-dresses and phone numbers that can be verified during working hours. Letters that cannot be validated will not be published. All articles/letters are subject to editing and should be limited to 1000 words or less. Not all letters can be published due to space limitations. Cut off is 5:00 p.m. on the 15th of each month, if the 15th falls on the weekend/holiday, cut off is close of business on the following business day. Any submission from a member of Local 587 to the News Review deemed unprint-able by the Recording Secretary shall be forwarded to the Executive Board for final decision to publish.

Send letters and articles as original Word documents to Cheryl Rowe at: crowe.recsec@atu587.com

weingarten rightS StatementI request to have a union representative present on my behalf dur-

ing this meeting because I believe it may lead to disciplinary action taken against me. If I am denied my right to have a union representative present, I will refuse to answer accusational questions and any I believe

may lead to discipline.

Kenny McCoRMiCK Pres/Business Agent email – kmccormick.president@atu587.org

nAthAnAeL ChAppeLLe 1st Vice President/ Assistant Business Agent/

email – nchappelle.vp1@atu587.orgMiKe WhiteheAd 2nd Vice President/

Assistant Business Agent, Maintenanceemail – mwhitehead.vp2@atu587.org

pAtRiCK BRAdy Financial Secretary email – pbrady.finsec@atu587.orgCheRyL RoWe Recording Secretary/

Editor News Review/Correspondent to ln Transit email – crowe.recsec@atu587.org

oFFiCeRS oF the AMALGAMAted tRAnSit Union, LoCAL 587:

Web site: http://www.atu587.com

Minority Affairs Officer ESTHER HANkERSONVehicle Maintenance Position #1 CORy RIgTRUP Vehicle Maintenance Position #2 MIkE ROCHON Vehicle Maintenance Position #3 PATRICk MURRAyFacilities Maintenance LISA CARTERSupervisors kEVIN BANkSSpecial Classifications ERIC BUTLERking County Units Outside kCM NINUS HOPkINSTransit Operator Position #1 MIkE BURR Transit Operator Position #2 TzUR WILFANdTransit Operator Position #3 TyLER zIMMERMANTransit Operator Position #4 LOREN COOkTransit Operator Position #5 kEN PRICETransit Operator Position #6 RANdy LEWIS Transit Operator Position #7 MARy J. NEWTONTransit Operator Position #8 LORRI kURTHClallam / Jefferson County Ed STANARdRail Representative SHANNON SHAy

Among Topics to be discussed: grievance and Arbitration Update

Unfinished Business: Motion: By Ludwig Becker to spend up to $800.00 o send a CTS member to Washington Public State Conference & Rodeo in August 2015 in Vancouver, WA.

All Officers were present with the exception of Lisa Nault and Cherise Millhouse.

Motion: By Paul Neil that ATU 587 spend up to $12,000 for the cook out and MERRA will pay one half of the cost.

Please note: This was the final meeting of the outgoing Executive Board.

At the June 2015 cycle of mem-bership meetings the following business was addressed:

Motion: By Paul Neil to hold a referendum vote at the August 2015 membership meetings to approve the merger with ATU Local 1384 to take effect September 1, 2015.

Motion carried.

The membership did not approve the proposal to change the bylaw Article VIII, dues and Assessment as submitted by Harold Batson.

The membership did not approve the proposal to change the bylaw Article IV, Section 7 Committees as submitted by Chuck Lare.

The following members were June pot draw winners: Andrew Price, charter meeting, Michael Teeter, morning meeting, Randy Lewis, Saturday meeting, geanna Dumonceaux, afternoon meeting, Alice Lane, JTA meeting and Jacque-lyn Rooney at the CTS meeting and there was no draw for the rolling pot. The Next rolling pot will be $225.00.

“When someone you love becomes a memory … that memory becomes a treasure.”

~ Author Unknown

Please notify the union office of any member’s passing so that this information may be shared with the rest of our union family.

In Loving Memory…

debra Ries, a kCM Transit Operator, last worked out of Bellevue Base passed away on May 13, 2015. Sister Ries joined the Local July 2003.

PUT C.O.P.E. DONATIONS TO WORK —

VOTE PRO TRANSIT

PROS VOTE PRO TRANSIT

July 2015

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A r b i t r a t i o n U p d a t e1. dennis Echols: grieved termina-

tion for alleged gross Misconduct; the arbitrator reinstated Brother Echols. Welcome back dennis!!

2. Andrew Price: grieved a picked report being split on a Saturday in violation of contract; scheduled July 21, 2015.

3. Mark Kelly: grieved union worked being performed by a subcontractor (bus wraps); sched-uled July 28 & 29, 2015.

4. John Marx: grieved creation of swing shifts for Millwrights; sched-uled September 1, 2015.

5. Elaine Monzon: grieved termi-nation for alleged falsification of a Metro document; scheduled September 10 & 11, 2015.

6. Tim Brickell: grieved vacation pick conducted in violation of con-tract language; scheduled October 30, 2015.

7. Symantha Cola: grieved improper vacations pick procedures; sched-ule pending.

8. Jerrold McKenna: grieved nu-merous contract violations in the subcontracting of work histori-cally and traditionally preformed by king County Metro Vehicle Maintenance Mechanics; schedule pending.

9. Gary Archer: grieved improper assignment of overtime; schedule pending.

10. Carol Leak: grieved improper is-suance of an unexcused absence; scheduled for October 5 & Octo-ber 6.

11. dan Kenny: grieved subcontract-ing of work historically and tradi-tionally performed by bargaining unit members; schedule pending.

12. Michael Maw: grieved historical practice and contract language re-garding assignments of Millwright shifts and assignment of overtime; schedule pending.

13. Michael Maw: (same issue as above) grieved historical practice and contract language regarding assignments of Millwright shifts and assignment of overtime; sched-ule pending.

14. Matthew Masuoka: grieved im-proper transfer from Bus to Rail; schedule pending.

15. Cary Watson: grieved a suspen-sion for alleged Serious Miscon-duct; schedule pending.

Words cannot express the grief and anger of some-one who’s experienced

the sudden and unexpected loss of a loved one — particularly a child. And when anyone dies as a result of a bus accident, it’s only natural to blame the driver.

But no one hates a bus accident more than a bus driver.

Operators involved in fatal incidents are greatly impacted, routinely seeking professional help to cope with the experience. Many are so devastated that they never get behind the wheel again.

The Amalgamated Transit Union is committed to achieving Mayor de Blasio’s “Vision zero” goal of eliminating all pedestrian deaths and will continue to work with all responsible parties toward that end.

We have enough experience with this issue, however, to know that simply “throwing the book” at drivers, regardless of their cul-pability, will do nothing to correct the problems that lead to accidents in the first place.

There has been a startling change in the engineering of our

Blind Spots in Our Vision.”True bus safety demands it.Transit agencies across the coun-

try — Cleveland, Philadelphia and Madison, Wis. — have acknowl-edged this problem, and courts have even exonerated drivers involved in fatal accidents when “moving blind spots” are clearly involved.

In Portland, Ore., the transit agency and bus manufacturer paid a settlement to the families of two victims who were killed and three who were injured in a crosswalk accident.

In addition to coping with bus-design flaws, drivers have to meet insane computerized timetables or face discipline, regardless of the dif-ficulties they encounter on the road. These punishing schedules leave little or no time for recuperation or bathroom breaks between runs.

Today, overworked and dis-tracted drivers are pushed to meet impossible schedules on vehicles that create significant blind spots in their field of vision. It is a testa-ment to drivers’ professionalism and concern for the public that so few accidents occur.

We know that is no comfort to the relatives and friends of those who have lost their lives in these tragic incidents. But, it does suggest practical, effective ways we can

Before Slamming Bus Drivers De Blasio needs to make buses safer

By Larry Hanley, President of the Amalgamated Transit Union International.

buses in the last 50 years. The Na-tional Academy of Sciences identi-fied the problem in 2008, describing the large blind spots built into buses today that weren’t there years ago:

“A-pillars” — the vertical col-umn between the driver’s-side windshield and window — and the pillars’ adjoining side-view mirror often create a foot-long obstacle in drivers’ field of vision that prevents them from seeing pedestrians on their left.

Tall fare boxes and other ob-stacles block drivers from seeing pedestrians on their right.

Manufacturers of buses built before 1970 provided drivers with a wide field of vision that they don’t today. Consequently, our goal for “Vision zero” might be called “zero

reduce, and hopefully eliminate, these terrible occurrences.

We must retrofit the mirrors or retire current buses that create blind spots in drivers’ vision.

New york City accounts for a third of all transit trips in the coun-try, and the MTA has an opportunity to set the standard for safe buses nationwide by ensuring that new buses don’t have these obstacles.

What has the MTA done so far to address these dangerous blind spots? Asked bus drivers to twist their bodies like a pretzel while driving to see around the blind spots, in order to make sure there’s no pedestrian in the crosswalk.

Talk about dangerous.It’s time for the MTA to make

changes to buses with these blind spots that it already owns, and to stop buying buses with these blind spots going forward.

The MTA should also look into employing modern technology that can signal drivers when they are close to an obstacle.

There are also audio systems that have been implemented in buses — in Cleveland, for example — that warn pedestrians when a bus is approaching.

We acknowledge that this needs to be a team effort. We all need to do a better job of educating the public about how it can work with us to create a culture of safety on our roads.

ATU members support the goals of “Vision zero.” After all, we have family members on our city’s streets, too. We are willing to work with the mayor, the MTA and all responsible groups to end all injury and death involving public transit.

“We all need to do a better job of educating the public about how it can

work with us to create a culture of safety on our roads.”

Continuing education for Shop Stewards and potential Shop Stewards will be held at the Labor

Temple Hall, Saturday, July 11th at 10:00 a.m., one hour before the 11:00 a.m. union meetings.

The cut off time for requests for a courtesy detail is by noon of the Monday before the Saturday meeting.

It is suggested that the meetings be facilitated by one of the two ATU 587 Vice Presidents.

Come and talk about issues concerning our members and discuss strategies on how we can best advocate and represent

our membership.

Hope to see you there.

Continuing Education for Shop Stewards and

Potential Shop Stewards

July 2015

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greet i ngs brot hers a nd sisters,

I had the honor and plea-sure of attending this conference along with some of our other ATU locals (758-Tacoma, 757-Portland, 1724-Vancouver B.C. the host local). I attended the Advanced grievance and Arbitration class. The class was instructed by Bill Hockenberry. He covered various aspects of the grievance-arbitration process. He did this by putting us in the role of the arbitrator. Through this process, we were able to see cases from the perspective of the arbitrator. In one

exercise, we had to make a decision without having a contract to work with or look at. I felt that this gave

one an idea of what an arbitrator goes through when rendering a decision. This exercise reinforced

the importance of preparation when representing members. One of the very first exercises we worked through taught us attention to de-tail. We were asked to figure out what the facts of a robbery were through a very ambiguous account of events. For example, instead of “The contents of the cash register were scooped up by _______ ,” we had to figure out who scooped the contents of the cash register from the sentence “The contents of the register were scooped up, and the man sped away.” I thought I had aced it when I did the exercise before the first day of class started. But then when we were given more instruc-tion, I found myself second guess-ing my choices, looking through the whole story about five to six more times at the least. The second day, we did the exercises where we had to figure out which way the deci-sion would go. I found this class to be very informative and rich in detail. I would recommend this class (and Mr. Hockenberry as the instructor) to any Steward, E-Board or Full Time officer who would like to have a better understanding of how these meetings can go.

The third day, we welcomed four guest speakers: Nick Volkow, Coun-cilor for Burnaby; Raj Chouhal, MLA for Burnaby; Irene Lansinger, President for the B.C. Federation of Labor (or Labour depending on what side of the border you’re on); and Michelle Babiuk from Trans-link. They all gave very informative presentations. Michelle Babuik gave a PowerPoint presentation on transit in the Vancouver B.C. area and even gave us a little bit of a his-tory lesson regarding the evolution of transit in the city. While Seattle and Vancouver, B.C. have similar climates and challenges, Vancou-ver seems to have had much more success in planning their system (the family used the Sky train to go and see downtown Vancouver). The three guest speakers that came before her spoke on the challenges that they face in BC.

After they spoke, we heard re-ports from the presidents of locals in attendance. From what was reported, it seems that the biggest threats going forward are going to be the fight against Subcontracting, and Right to Work legislation. From what I could gather, the latter of the two could be particularly devastat-ing to us if it gets implemented. This is what we as a bargaining unit will need to focus on politically if we’re going to survive.

In closing, I would like to say thank you to my brothers and sisters for sending me to this conference, and giving me the opportunity to sharpen my skills and abilities. I look forward to using these tools to better serve you all.

2015 Northwest Conference, May 27–30

Vancouver, B.C., CanadaBy Eric Butler

“Vancouver seems to have had

much more success in planning

their (transit) system.”

July 2015

5

In watching the process of contract negotiations this last time around, I’m disappointed

by the recommendations of our union’s officers. I understand their reasons for recommending that we accept the contract offers and while I don’t necessarily disagree with their assessment of the situa-tion, I do have a problem with the underlying attitudes behind those recommendations. The idea that we are helplessly stuck with the cur-rent system and can’t expect to get a fair deal from an arbitrator goes against the foundations that unions, in general, were built on.

Before I explain further let me first say that I understand our of-ficers’ pessimism when it comes to the arbitration process. I’ve been a mechanic at Metro for over 28 years now and have been through the arbitration process a couple of times as a grievant and as a member of the arbitration panel. I too have little faith in the arbitration process. Ideas like justice, integrity, fair play, common sense etc. have no place in that system. Instead these ideas have been replaced by a system that rewards the side that tells the best lies and backs them up with the most convincing documents. The side that best understands how to manipulate the system in their favor wins arbitrations. As it has always been, the advantage goes to the side with the most money and resources to spend on legal expertise.

I started at Metro about the same time as the rule was put into effect regarding arbitrations. We were told that it was a good thing, even though we would no longer be able to strike or legally participate in work actions; we would always be able to settle our differences through the arbitration process. We were assured that the process was a fair one and that strikes were not a good option any more. “Nobody wins in a strike,” we were told and as far as short term, financial gain is concerned, that may be true.

However the reality is that, over the last 28 years, I’ve seen our work-ing conditions slowly deteriorate along with our wages in relation to the cost of living. It seems, to me, that the system we have now works against us. Not in obvious ways but slowly over time we are losing the benefits that were paid for (literally) with the blood, sweat and tears of our brothers and sisters who have gone before us. It seems that arbitrators don’t like to give us anything extra, even in the best of times but are willing to take benefits away from us when the county can convince them that it just can’t af-ford those benefits. Isn’t that what our union president was telling us in his News Review articles stating why we should except the contract offers? Once we lose a benefit, whether by an arbitrator’s decision or by our accepting a contract, you can bet that we will never get it back (through the arbitration process).

If I remember correctly, the ar-bitration process was put in place

because we are public employees and any work action that slows or disables public transit causes too much disruption to the welfare of our community. But isn’t that where our real strength lies? When we gave up the right to strike we gave up the only real leverage we had. Now the only option we seem to have is to try to slow the bleeding as much as possible, through a corrupt and dysfunctional legal process. Let’s be honest with ourselves—we are a union of bus drivers, mechanics and various laborers both skilled and unskilled. We are playing on a field far from our home field.

“So what about our union’s law-yers,” you might ask? I’m sure that they do the best that they can but in the end they are officers of the court and bound to play by the rules of the same corrupt legal system that has been slowly pushing us backwards. Besides, win or lose, they will still get paid and paid very well, won’t they?

Our union members are not the only ones losing ground financially. It has been a trend all over the country. We’ve all heard it said that the rich keep getting richer and the poor keep getting poorer. This is an unfortunate truth. In addition the middle class is constantly getting smaller and not because we are joining the rich. It’s a fact that 10% of the people in the United States own 85% of the wealth and, that inequity is getting worse not better.

One of the things that I learned in kindergarten was that you only have so many cookies in the jar so the less you give to others the more you can keep for yourself. Simple but true. Now ask yourself don’t you think that those with all the wealth are investing considerable resources in finding ways to manipulate the system to their advantage to keep a few more of those cookies? Just some food for thought.

So you are probably getting tired of my bitching by now and wonder where all this is leading. I see no point to bitching without offering solutions to my concerns, so here is what I see as a solution. I think that we need to get back to our roots, the tactics that made unions strong in the first place. Let’s bring the game back to our home field, where our combined expertise gives us the advantage for a change, where our strength is. We are the ones who know how this (transit) system works and we know how to shut it down.

yes, I’m talking about work ac-tions, even a strike if necessary. Sure it’s illegal but that didn’t stop the working people who formed our unions in the first place. In

the early days of union organizing even trying to start a union was a federal offense. Leaders in those early days faced not only the threat of jail but all sorts of harassment, legal and illegal, even being beaten and murdered by thugs hired by company executives. If you think I’m exaggerating, read the historical account of the Ludlow massacre in Colorado, in 1914.

Sure, our situation is not as bad as it was for those workers in 1914 but how far are we willing to be pushed before we say “ENOUgH” and start fighting back—seriously. My point is that union leaders in the past have been willing to work outside the law when the laws were corrupt, serving the interests of the wealthy few instead of the hard working majority of people who made that wealth possible in the first place.

So, in conclusion, you may be-lieve that nobody wins in a strike but that’s not entirely true—there are winners. Those are the people who come after us—our children and grandchildren—who benefit from the stands we make today. After all where would we be if the founders of our unions hadn’t been willing to take risks? They found themselves laboring under unjust laws that were biased against them and they did what they had to do to change things. Today we enjoy the benefits earned by their sacrifices. Let’s not let that slip away from us. Let’s carry on that proud tradition so that those who come after us will enjoy better lives.

I say it’s time for our union’s leadership to show some balls and start calling for some work actions. If the current officers are unwilling to do what needs to be done, then they need to step aside and let oth-ers take those offices—leaders that are willing to do the right thing, no matter how difficult. Perhaps just the threat of work actions might be enough but if not, if we have to, we can bring this county to a halt and our managers and political leaders to their knees and force them to give us back what we have lost!

Going Back to Our RootsBy Nick Caraway

Letters to the Editor

are strongly encouraged.

Letters to the Editor…

Letters/contributions must include printed names, signatures, work ID numbers, addresses and phone numbers that can be verified during working hours. Letters that cannot be validated will not be published. All articles/letters are subject to editing and should be limited to 1000 words or less. Not all letters can be published due to space limitations. Cut off is 5:00 p.m. on the 15th of each month, if the 15th falls on the weekend/holiday, cut off is close of business on the following business day. Any submission from a member of Local 587 to the News Review deemed unprintable by the Recording Secretary shall be forwarded to the Executive Board for final decision to publish.

Send letters and articles as original Word documents to Cheryl Rowe

at crowe.recsec@atu587.com

SenD in your oPinionSnotiCe to all reaDerS

Views and opinions

expressed in news Review articles are those of the

authors and not necessarily the official position

of Local 587

“Today we enjoy the benefits earned by [our union founders’] sacrifices.”

July 2015

6

The Vice President’s Report

The 2nd Vice President’s Report

The Financial Secretary’s Report

By Nathanael Chappelle

By Mike Whitehead

By Paul Neil

My ATU brothers and sis-ters, the election is over and the members have

spoken. For some of you the elec-tion results were uplifting. For others, the outcome may not have gone quite the way you wanted. I recognize this, but want to as-sure all of you, that regardless of how you voted, I am committed to working for the betterment of the entire membership and in the best interests of the Local.

While I was on the campaign

trail, I heard many of you providing ideas and insights on how we can make things better. I want you to know that I hear you, and respect what you have to say. As I get the overview of everything happening in our Local, I will keep in mind those conversations we had. And I will get back to you on those things we can look into, and implement. I will do so with your help.

As I said when I was running for VP, I am here for all of Local 587. My goal is to return this Lo-

Ever get what you ask for? I did and I asked for a lot, your trust. Earning your support

and winning in the primary election is very humbling for me.

I covered a lot of bases and a lot of shifts during the primary cam-paign. Some locations I visited more than others. did I see everybody I wanted too? No, but I am commit-ted to be the maintenance rep that everyone knows and trusts to do the right thing. That is my commitment to this membership.

I will bring transparency to this position defined by including my Board Officers in all meetings where maintenance issues are be-ing discussed. All decisions made

will have value to this membership which in turn will add value to this agency. My opinion will not be my own but of the members I represent.

I will respect those in manage-ment who earn it and challenge those managers who are in con-tempt of our members. One of my first objectives is rebuilding the Shop Steward program, the founda-tion of this local.

In addition, I will interact re-spectfully with all members and all I ask in return from you is to re-spectfully interact with each other…

I wrote the above statement a number of weeks back not knowing who the other four full time Officers

Building and Restoring Trust

Thank You Maintenance!

Let the Representation Begin

Freedom through Organization, Advancement through Unity.

We share one goal, a commitment to work together for the betterment

of this Local.

would be. I now know and am very pleased with who you the member-ship elected. As I write this now I have had the opportunity to spend some long hours and interact with the new elect full time officers on a number of occasions and I believe I can speak for all when I say we share one goal, a commitment to

work together for the betterment of this Local.

The next few weeks will be time spent gaining speed so come July 1 we can hit the floor running.

“Keep your sticks sharp and your fires burning.”

cal to its rightful owner, you the membership. With that in mind, I especially pledge to get the shop steward program back on track, and see that our stewards get the training and support they deserve to be the best they can be. They are

truly the backbone of this union. I also look forward to working with all of you. By pulling together we can fulfill our union’s vison: Freedom through Organization, Advance-ment through Unity.

New Member Applications submitted to the ATU International in May:

n the month of May 2015, we reported 21 new members to the ATU International; 2 are employed at Clallam Transit and 19 are em-ployed at king County. This brings our total active membership to 3856. This is a decrease of 38 members compared to this time last year when we had 3894 active members.

Bills:All financial figures are subject to

the review of the Executive Board.

Income:In May tota l income was

$255,060.00

Expenses:Per Capita payments totaled

$64,523.65 other bills for payroll, rent, legal, etc totaled $247,145.10.This amounts to a def icit of $56,608.75 for the month.

This year vs.Last year:To t a l i n c o m e i s d o w n

$101,839.33or 7.3%, this is due primarily to January 2014 having a 3rd paycheck and the associated income with it. Per Capita payments

are up $18,652.62 or 6.2% and all other expenses are up $95,236.14 or 2.2%. So far we have a deficit of $190,339.37 this year.

My activities for the month:• RETRO pay for those members

from king County has been paid.• May 25–31 I was at the NW Con-

ference which went very well with 2 full days of training on grievances & arbitrations instructed by Bill Hock-enberry from the ATU International. 80 members from all over the USA & Canada attended.

• We have small bags, hard candy and stickers say “Thank you for sup-

porting Transit” to put on the bags. We need VOLUNTEERS to help put the stickers on the bags, fill them with candy and help hand them out at the Pride Parade as well as at the Omoja Festival.

• Training of my replacement Patrick Brady as Financial Secre-tary has begun and he impresses me as an intelligent, hardworking and honest man who will serve the membership well.

• Thank you for the honor and privilege to serve as your Financial Secretary. If anyone needs me you can find me at Bellevue Base Training.

Financial Secretary’s June 2015 Membership Meeting Report

July 2015

7

This is my report on the last year’s events. It may be a bit late because I had to wait until

after election censorship ended to submit it.

Before I start this story, I want to state that I am no victim! There was a fight brewing and I wanted to be in it. I actively and aggressively involved myself as much as possible. Please judge me! Please hold me ac-countable! I represent you.

This story starts a year ago. I was honored by this Local to participate in the mediation process and what ultimately led to the second offer. However, to participate I had to sign a confidentiality document that remained in effect until the Arbitrator issued his award. That’s just the way bargaining is; now truths can be told.

In mediation, the Union chose issues we thought we could win. Metro did the same. For the most part I agreed with it. during the process we also talked about a second offer and that’s where this story gets sexy!

Remember a year ago Metro’s financial prospects weren’t so rosy? Pending layoffs, eminent service cuts, not an ideal bargaining posi-tion for the Union. Nonetheless, we talked about issues and we talked about money. Issues before the money!

When the wage offer was pre-sented, well, that was unsettling! The Mediator asked if I thought this offer would pass the Board. yes I said. When she asked if I thought it would pass the Membership, I responded I don’t know what the Operators will do. Then I stated, I know what VM will do, it will fail and we’d be lucky to get 30% yes vote. My opinion was spot on.

When that offer finally was presented to the Board, there were some holdouts, particularly VM. Even though the Board understood we were in a crappy bargaining position for wages, VM couldn’t support it. Cause once again, the offer failed to address VM issues. So the Board asked the President would he go back and address VM’s issues? VM was asked, if we get

these issues resolved, would you support it? yes, was the reply, so our President sent the lawyers out and the meeting was postponed.

As fate would have it, VM got some of what we wanted, not all.

Unfortunately, the next Board’s meeting was scheduled during a family vacation, so I was unable to attend. Next came a decision I had to make that challenged my upbring-ing. Since I told the Board I would support sending it the Membership before learning our resolutions were watered down, should I go back on what I said? As all of you know, the document sent to you had my signature on it. yes, I kept my word, even though I regretted giving it. (A lesson learned) My Mom taught her boys, “A man’s word has to be worth something or he isn’t worth nothing.”

When the Membership was presented with the offer, VM was insulted. About this time truths started leaking out, Metro’s finan-cial prognosis miraculously took a turn for the better. So astonished was VM, it made many in VM sick to their stomachs, apparently all on the same day! For me, I got angry! I felt I’d been lied to by our Employer, that this substandard offer was po-litically motivated and not in good faith. (Another lesson learned) Of course the offer failed.

What came next was unprec-edented. Morale hit the toilet, BO counts doubled, sick leave usage sky rocketed and then it turned ugly. Lacking direction, an onslaught of frustrated members turned their unguided energies upon their Union Officers. yes, your Officers were to blame to an extent, but the real anger should have been focused on our Employer who chose to invest our wages into reserve funds and erode our standard of living. (Very important lesson learned) Never forget that!

Half a year later, our day in Ar-bitration had arrived. Once again I was honored to participate in the most redeeming of events. What I experienced for 3 days was intoxi-cating, like liquid pulses of union-ism pumping through my veins.

Last YearSubmitted by VM Board Officer Cory Rigtrup

I am so honored to have been elected ATU Local 587 Recording Secretary. My deepest thanks to everyone who helped me get here.

I promise to prove myself worthy of serving Local 587.

June was a crazy month. I was fortunate to be able to learn from our former Recording Secretary Judy young. My training gave me an extremely good picture of what to expect. While in the middle of one project something else would come up demanding immediate attention…then

two more things. The Rec-Sec job is a continual balancing act, trying to keep many balls in the air and I am very excited to be taking on this challenge.

My goal is not to rewrite the Recording Sec-retary duties. My goal is to maintain accurate, complete records and to keep you, the member, informed and aware of what is happening. Please, submit articles for the News Review. Come to meetings. Help strengthen our Union.

In solidarity

The Recording Secretary’s ReportBy Cheryl Rowe

Keeping You Informed

Testimonies were given and they shined like justice.

I felt the passion from our well-prepared witnesses. I was blinded by the brilliance of our lawyers wielding their craft with tools made from words. I saw brothers and sisters rise, to demand that no longer will we be treated like second-class Employees. yes, it was a glorious day!

When the dust settled, I shook the hands of both Union and County officials as a sense of jubilation came over me. For as tumultuous as the last year has been, we need peace! We need to never again let this lengthy process undermine our solidarity in our Union and faith in those we chose to represent us.

Next year we start this process all over again. Our Employer is not likely to forget the lessons they learned, I pray we do not either. In the meantime, the question we need to ask ourselves is, how are we go-ing to respond when they try these

tricks again? I for one am wiser thanks to these experiences; expect more from me.

I testify to this membership that we owe a big “THANk yOU” to those who stood and fought for us. Every one of us was well rep-resented.

Thanks for the ride, enjoy the win!uPdATE:Well, I just read our new Labor

Agreement. And it hurts. I was on a euphoric high when I wrote this article, now it’s June, and my attitude has come crashing down, like some bad ’60s acid trip.

All that stuff I talked about, the Union going back and finally get-ting some attention for VM issues. Somehow, none of that stuff made it into our new Labor Agreement. damn it! We’ve had the same Swing-shift differential since the ’80s. Hell, I was in Middle school last time that changed.

This new Labor Agreement hurts like betrayal!

©

Happy Independence

Day!Saturday, July 4

July 2015

88

$250.00 per person down payment. Last day to make payment is June 28th 2016. $1178.00 for one person $1517.00

for one person. Book with kim to get the group rate 877-436-9772 ext. 7028. Tell kim you’re in the group with LaTonya Plummer greason. EVERyONE IS WELCOME. It’s cheaper to book and share a room with two people

instead of one person. Please be aware that you will get a free upgrade room (Balcony) so don’t ask for it when

making down payment. If you have any questions please feel free to contact me. Also let me know if you’re going so you can order your tee-shirt for $20.00. I’m looking forward

to having a awesome vacation next year with you Metro Ladies. See you there. Thanks! Love, LaTonya (Red)

587 Ladies Getaway Cruise

BelizeWestern Caribbean Cruise

September 11th –18th 2016

Norwegian Cruise Ship

Kenny McCormick – President/ Business Representative

Nathanael Chappelle - Vice President Assistant Business Representative

Mike Whitehead -2nd Vice President Asst. Business Representative –

Maintenance

Patrick Brady - Financial Secretary Treasurer

Cheryl Rowe - Recording Secretary and Correspondent to ln Transit

Esther Hankerson Minority Affairs Officer

Mike Burr - Executive Board Officer Transit Operator

Position #l

Tzur Wilfand - Executive Board Officer Transit Operator

Position #2

Tyler Zimmerman - Executive Board Officer Transit Operator

Position #3

Loren Cook - Executive Board Officer Transit Operator

Position #4

Ken Price - Executive Board Officer Transit Operator

Position #5

Randy Lewis - Executive Board Officer Transit Operator

Position #6

Mary J. Newton- Executive Board Officer Transit Operator

Position #7

Lorri Kurth- Executive Board Officer Transit Operator

Position #8

Cory Rigtrup Executive Board Officer

Vehicle Maintenance Position #1

Mike Rochon Executive Board Officer

Vehicle Maintenance Position #2

Patrick Murray Executive Board Officer

Vehicle Maintenance Position #3

Lisa Carter - Executive Board Officer Facilities Maintenance

Eric Butler - Executive Board Officer Special Classifications

Kevin Banks - Executive Board Officer

1st Line Supervisors

Shannon Shay Executive Board Officer

Rail

Ed Stanard - Executive Board Officer Clallam & Jefferson County

Ninus Hopkins - Executive Board Officer

Seattle Personal Transit

Your Newly Elected Officers of the

Amalgamated Transit Union, Local 587

June 2015

For those who don’t know, I was diagnosed with ALS (Amyo-trophic Lateral Sclerosis, aka

Lou gherig’s disease) in April 2014. My last day driving a bus was April 24 of this year. My version of ALS, bulbar onset, affects my speech and other mouth functions before the rest of my body. I was (and probably still am) capable of operating a bus safely for a couple of hours but I had great difficulty communicating with passengers and the Operations Control Center (OCC). It was OCC’s inability to understand one of my radio calls that prompted me to go on the sick list that last day. Metro and I have since discovered in a recent rule change ALS is a disqualifying con-dition for maintaining a CdL. My job situation was handled mostly favorably throughout its journey by both Metro and Local 587.

But king County and Metro are at financial risk due to lawsuits and/or settlements for mismanagement of other Operators’ situations. dur-ing my tenure as as an Operator and Shop Steward I have observed many Base Chiefs who do not ap-preciate their lack of knowledge

in Metro policy and procedure. In most circumstances this results in a grievance that Metro fights but ultimately settles. In the case of disabilities and medical conditions, these Chiefs don’t recognize they are potentially in violation of AdA (Americans with disabilities Act) and discrimination laws, which car-ry far more serious consequences than a contract violation.

I feel fortunate. I had a good working relationship with my Base Chief, Michael Thornton. I believe he got to know me, my perspective, and my intent with the job. Not every employee in Local 587 can say the same, and I can’t say the same with a lot of my past Chiefs. In my opinion Michael bent over backwards to help me manage my situation within the boundaries of Metro policy and the 587 contract. I think Michael recognized that I cared about trying to do A good Job and he was trying to find ways to support Operators with that mindset. I know he thinks he’s just doing the job the way he thinks it should be done. I don’t think he realizes how far away that is from some other Chiefs’ attitudes.

Driving Transit With a Disability (or Other Medical Condition)

By Joshua Laff, former Transit Operator & Shop Steward

I’ve had seven surgeries over the last 11 years to address damage to my knee from a sports injury. Sev-eral years ago I found a shoe with high technology in cushioning that really made a difference in how my knee felt, and I discovered the brand made a work shoe with a lot of the same features. So I asked my Chief at the time about getting that shoe through the uniform al-lowance. She opened a discussion about which style was acceptable. She asked me to get a doctor’s note justifying the need. My orthopedic surgeon wrote a note and I turned it in. That same Chief rejected my request stating there was no need because the authorized shoe store had athletic shoes. So, not only was she dishonest with me along the entire process, she also decided she was a shoe expert who knew more than my orthopedic surgeon. That or she didn’t care about the condition of my knee. I wasn’t going to fight her over a $70 expense, so I paid for the shoes out of pocket.

There are some really good Base Chiefs throughout Metro. There are also a good number who have attitudes along the lines of the Chief I mention above. That is not an isolated incident for me or other Operators. Never mind the lack of respect for the Chain of Command that creates. My shoe situation was medical the moment a doctor’s note became involved. do I have grounds for AdA discrimination?

Hopefully management sees my point. With the legal implica-tions of AdA, FMLA and kCFML (protected family medical leave), one would think Metro has safe-guards and oversight over matters of Operators’ medical conditions. Transit Operations Procedure #82, which provides an FMLA/kCFML checklist, is the closest I can find. This policy contains multiple refer-ences to disability Services (dS), the closest thing Metro has to an expert (who isn’t a lawyer) on how Metro should be handling medical situa-tions. Unfortunately, most of those references “suggest” consulting with dS if the Chief has questions.

Procedure #82 needs to be re-written and Chiefs need better training when it comes to handling Operators’ medical cases. dS needs to know about every case going on to ensure expert knowledge is being applied. Unlike Chiefs, dS has the medical and technical knowledge to keep up with accommodations that can assist 587 members in doing their jobs. Employees with medical conditions don’t need the added hassle of fighting with Chiefs’ egos. Bringing in dS from the start on employee medical cases will ensure employees are treated free from discrimination, prejudice, and lack of knowledge. I realize this requires additional dS staffing to give every case full attention. Whether one cares more about employees or law-suits, the investment is worthwhile.